Entries in Legends of the Dread Realm
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After a brief break from the hectic publishing schedule of last year, we decided to give our authors a break and allow them to catch up on outstanding material. Well the break is over folks, and we've got a lot of good stuff coming this year. Age of the Sigil will see a double-season launch (that's 2 mega omnibuses to replace the single-episode we've ceased doling out as of last year). Also look for Roger Vallon's third Kill Factor entry titled Death Strike, and offerings from a couple new authors we've signed. Ronald Coleborn's Legends of the Dread Realm saga also continues with Dragon's Tyranny. Phoenix Earth Season two will come on the heals of the season one omnibus release, and Order of 5ive and Mafiosi both get new seasons this year, but you won't have to wait week after week to read the eps., 'cause we're launching them Netflix style. So let the fun begin folks.

Feel free to read the first chapter of the first chronicle of my new Legends of the Dread Realm series. The chapter is available here. The first book in the series, Knight's Valor, was fully released to the public today, Friday, August 31st.

Enjoy, dear readers, and if you decide to purchase the full movie book, my pockets will thank you all the more.

Ronald Coleborn should be no stranger by now, having co-created two well-received TV book series for 711 Press, those being Age of the Sigil and Phoenix Earth. Now Ronald is stepping out on his own with a wonderful new fantasy entry, a series titled Legends of the Dread Realm. Book one, or Chronicles the First as he dubs it, is Knight’s Valor, which enjoyed a soft launch on Friday August 3, 2012 and will roll out everywhere else today, Friday, August 31, 2012. We had a great discussion with Ronald regarding the new series and writing in general. Below is the result of that conversation:

711 Press:We’re glad to have you onboard, Ronald. A lot of your ideas are right up our alley.

Ronald Coleborn:Much obliged. Granted, not all of the ideas are published as is. You two [Daniel Middleton and Jaime Vendera, the co-publishers] bring a lot of good things to the table as well.

711 Press:Thanks. It’s great to have a wonderful team that fosters creativity. Let’s get right down to it. What is the Legends of the Dread Realm exactly? We know it’s a fantasy series, but break it down for the uninitiated.

Ronald Coleborn:Well, Legends of the Dread Realm is about a pair of kingdoms, known as the Great Realms, Prybbia and Glyssia, named after twin regents of a bygone era. In the current scheme of things, a tyrant lord, the ruler of Prybbia, has risen in the east and he commands a vast army of powerful men given to dark sorcery, and others who are infamous mercenaries. War is threatened against the Glyssian Realm after their Outer Guard knights bring a fight to the throne of Prybbia. That initial fight—we’ll call it the Battle of Aklon—ends in disaster, wherein nearly an entire legion is lost. Things get worse when citizens of the Freelands, a region not under any direct rule, march against Glyssia, which is completely vulnerable at this point. I won’t give too much away, but essentially a band of warriors moves to defend the realm, despite the great loss recently suffered on the fields of Aklon. Throughout the series you’ll see characters grow and evolve, others die, and the story advanced like you’ve seen in no other fantasy series up to this point.

711 Press:What makes you say that?

Ronald Coleborn:Well, you know the answer to that, but for the sake of the uninitiated, as you say, I’ll spill the beans. 711 Press has created a unique formula with the movie-in-book-form concept. I mean you guys push that concept pretty hard, and I had to rethink my approach to fiction writing, but it really did pay off. I am able to tell a pretty fluid, organic story that unfolds quite naturally without me attempting to balloon it or stretch it out for the sake of word count. The plot just moves, and characters get to work out their issues and motivations without a lot of nudging on my part. This is one instance where the story really did tell much of itself. It wanted to be told.

711 Press: How many books are going to comprise the series

Ronald Coleborn: Right now I’d say six, but that can change. The overall plot stands at six, so we’ll go with that.

711 Press:And can you tell us how this series ties into the larger 711 Universe?

Ronald Coleborn: Ah, yes, yes. For those of you who don’t already know, 711 Press produces books that are tied into the same universe, sort of like Marvel Comics and DC Comics, or the films from Marvel Studios. James LaFleur and Gordon Massie did wonders with the Crisis Trilogy in my opinion, and they tied another thrilling series into their saga, that being Order of 5ive. Then that book refers to Roger Vallon’s Kill Factor series, which, with its second offering, Serpent Head, mentioned things we saw in Drusilla Winters’ third Moment of Death book (consequently of the same name). Another 711 Press writer, Melvyn Riley, wrote a series titled Age of the Sigil, which I co-created and plotted with you gentlemen [Daniel and Jaime]. The Legends of the Dread Realm comes on the heels of that saga, being set in the age that follows. In fact, one of the characters in the first book, Knight’s Valor, refers back to Sigil, so we know it is the same universe. The same can be said for Jami Lynn Saunders’s Werecat Saga, which ties into another TV book series titled Phoenix Earth.

711 Press: That’s how we planned this thing from the outset. And you’re absolutely right. All of the books are in the same universe, and some in the same timeline in fact, a few of which you named already. So tell us a little more about Dread Realm, is it for youngsters, adults, or what?

Ronald Coleborn:I’d say anyone over 17 can dig in. Any younger than that and I’m not liable for any psychological damage they’ll suffer. [Ronald laughs]. Seriously though, there’s a bit of violence and adult situations, but nothing gratuitous, and, as per the 711 Press guidelines, no foul language. Fantasy fans on a whole will eat it up though. The plot is a literary onion, which will see its many layers peeled away over the course of the six-book series. But each book promises to thrill and delight. Not one of them will drag out and stall the story momentum, like the works of a few contemporary authors who will go unnamed.

711 Press:Yeah, let’s not ruffle any feathers there. We can’t wait to unleash the full series on the public.

Ronald Coleborn:Ditto to that. And I’m really excited about Melvyn Riley’s follow-up saga, SpitFire, which is set in the age that follows my Dread Realm series.

711 Press:We’ll come to that in another interview [Jaime laughs].

Ronald Coleborn:Right, sorry. Jumping the gun a bit there am I?

711 Press:Just a tad. But no worries. So what is your motivation going into a series like this? How do you prepare and what keeps you going?

Ronald Coleborn:Well I live by many of the things I’ve learned writing for this press, namely the things Daniel taught me. I live and breathe whatever genre I’m working in. In the case of Dread Realm, I was surviving on a steady diet of Lord of the Rings, A Song of Ice and Fire, and Elric of Melniboné. Tolkien, Martin, and Moorcock. How can you go wrong? But know that I merely gleaned inspiration from these gentlemen and not fodder for plots. My plot is set apart from the weighty tomes of those greats. I also watched a lot of fantasy and medieval period films, the recent Clash of the Titans, Centurion, HBO’s Rome and Game of Thrones, among many others. Doing this helped me to streamline my storytelling and present a neat package of action, character motivations, and fantasy lore. And for the latter alone, one must turn to the masters to see how it should be done.

711 Press:Good stuff. So, you dropped a few big names just then, but who would you say is your favorite fantasy author?

Ronald Coleborn:That’s a tough question. I think it depends on the decade I’m in [more laughter]. I go through periods where I follow a set of writers and invest my heart and soul into their created worlds, and then, just like that, time passes and I find myself tuned in to a new set of writers. I just move on. Right now I’d say I’m into George R. R. Martin, who I’ve been reading well before the recent catapult to fame, and relative newcomer Patrick Rothfuss, the man behind the Kingkiller Chronicle. Really thrilling stuff.

711 Press:Nice. So we read the first book in your series, Knight’s Valor, which we loved, but the story was so engrossing and impacting, that we’re wondering how you’ll top it. Because, as you know, one of our hallmarks is to have each book in a series outdo the next.

Ronald Coleborn:Well that is the wish of all creative persons, I suppose. We want our new properties to exceed the old ones; the latest to surpass the last in every sense. Well, I see you’ve attempted that with Jami Lynn’s Werecat Saga, which evolved and expanded as the story unfolded, as did the Crisis Trilogy, which saw its set pieces and staging grounds balloon, even shifting to the past, etc. But those were three-book series. Mine is six books. If I were to do that I’d just about have a heart attack trying to top myself each time out. Pacing is the name of the game in this case, and while the stakes will be raised, and the story advanced via engaging dialogue and action, don’t expect a planet to crash into Urthe or something crazy like that simply to make the previous books seem tame by comparison. The impact will increase naturally, as the story allows. But everything will get deeper with each book. I’m all about exploring the characters as well, deepening them along with the overall story.

711 Press:That’s the kind of stuff we like to hear. It sounds like you’ve absorbed everything we’ve offered concerning our approach to fiction writing.

Ronald Coleborn: Of course I have, and I’m sure it will show in all of my books. I feel I’ve really grown as a writer since signing on with 711 Press.

711 Press: We have to agree there.

Ronald Coleborn:Not to mention, I’m actually a fan of all the other 711 Press writers. And I’m not just saying that. I read everything you guys put out, and not just for the sake of building and expanded the universe. I just want to know what’s going on on the other side of things. What Jami Lynn is up to, and Drusilla. Roger Vallon’s Kill Factor series is really keeping me on the edge of my seat too.

711 Press: It’s interesting that you say that because a couple of the other authors expressed pretty much the same thing. It reminds me of the days I [Daniel] used to read comics. A lot of the artists and writers were really into one another’s books, and gushed about them more than many of the fans.

Ronald Coleborn: Exactly my point.

711 Press: Well, with that said, we’ll let you go. You’ve got a few more books to complete so we won’t keep you.

Ronald Coleborn: It’s been a pleasure, gentlemen.

711 Press: Indeed. So pick up Ronald Coleborn’s new fantasy book today by visiting the Knight’s Valor product page. And happy reading, folks!

Knight's Valor is finally here, folks! The first chronicle in Ronald Coleborn's dynamic Legends of the Dread Realm saga, which features valiant knight's, brave warriors, cutthroat marauders, dread lords, and vanquished kings. The adventure is breathtaking and relentless at the same time and one will find it hard to put this first book down, especially since the action and drama flies by like a great movie.

Purchase your copy in the format of your choice by visiting the official product page here.

Chronicles the Second: King's Vengenance will be released on Friday, October 26, 2012. Don't miss this thrilling epic!

Hello all, Ronald Coleborn here. This is my first official post on 711 Press and I just wanted to take the time to mention that I have since completed the first book in the Legends of the Dread Realm fantasy saga and have already received the edited manuscript back from Rich Dalglish. It's called Knight's Valor, and the story has been tightened up and the action improved in spots and I feel it reads quite well.

If you are a fan of high fantasy and enjoy unfolding arcs where intrigue and tension increases and characters are flung in separate directions on varying missions and travels before a series of climatic battles ensue, then you'll love this series. The Dread Realm, or Prybbia, is one of the ancient kingdoms, which threatens to usurp its sister realm, Glyssia, and cast an evil shadow over the entire landscape, but there are heroes about who seek to stop the usurpaton: knights and spirit healers given to hidden arts of dark sorcery, and warriors of renown, among others. The first book is a fun ride for all those who plan on taking the plunge, and the extended saga promises to entertain and dazzle for years to come.

I think HBO is doing wonders for the fantasy genre. Not only have they taken source material and lifted the possibilities of the storytelling to new heights, but they've done so through the medium of television, perhaps eclipsing what has been done on the big screen (my apologies, Peter Jackson). Game of Thrones is high art in my view. The show manages to capture the essence of George R. R. Martin's books while adding a unique flavor to the mix each week. Characters are a bit different in the show and chart a slightly different course than their literary counterparts but ultimately they share the same fate, thus far anyway. We're nearing the end of season two and it is getting HOT!!!

I love Tyrion and the loyal and fearless Brienne; Arya is a rare treat and Daenerys is wonderfully portrayed, but her blasted dragons aren't in the show enough (blame it on the budget). For those who haven't read the books (I have yet to complete the newest books myself) you're in for major surprises and more shocking deaths, but I say, bring 'em on!

I gotta tell you too, this show has me pining for Ronald Coleborn's Legends of the Dread Realm series, which launches in August, supposedly. I've only read bits and pieces of it thus far, thanks to monthly meetings, but what I've seen has surely whetted my appetite.

You can tell by now that, though a sci-fi writer I am, I have a strong affinity for fantasy. Love the stuff!

Kill Factor returns with the second installment in the edge-of-your-seat espionage-thriller series. Author Roger Vallon takes his rogue agent to Geneva, in an attempt to uncover the hidden players behind Redrum. Meanwhile Magenta, the newest recruit, is dispatched to exquisite Monte Carlo, where she attempts to finagle intel from one of Redrum's elite while immersing herself in the pampered Monaco lifestyle. This is the sexiest Kill Factor entry so far, and it has to be with Magenta at the center of the story. We also meet a new sleeper with a standard Principate call sign and color code, Trajan Cobalt, and a lot is revealed in short order before all is said and done.

KILL FACTOR: DEATH STRIKENovember, 2012

And look for the explosive conclusion to the unofficial Redrum trilogy that is comprised of the first three books in the Kill Factor series. The series will head in a new direction with book four, titled White Russian, but we wrap things up for the first epic story with a major bang, and the fate of Redrum is decided, and the aim of the Kill Factor Organization is made clear. This is one series entry you won't want to miss, so mark your calendar!

D.N.A. DAVID NOBLE, ALIENMay, 2012

Directly on the heels of Jami Lynn Saunders' successful Werecat Saga (Feral, Rabid, Nocturnal) comes a new type of adventure. David Noble, an introverted teenager since the death of his father, discovers he's not alone when an overnight stay in the hills near his home puts him face to face with a being from another world. Little did he know the being came to Earth with the sole purpose of finding him. Thinking it was just a dream, David discovers the truth when his own DNA begins to evolve and he becomes the target of government forces. If you like I am Number Four, you will love D.N.A. DAVID NOBLE, ALIEN.

LEGENDS OF THE DREAD REALMAugust, October, December, 2012

Set in a time that follows the events of Age of the Sigil, this epic fantasy series from Ronald Coleborn recounts the age of heroes and legends; valient knights, dread dark lords, and vanquished princesses, each bearing a wondrous tale. In a divided realm, where a king lies dying, and ruthless armies and mercinaries form an aliance as they march toward the realm's High Court, a small band of warriors must defend the throne against an enemy that seeks to sweep terror across the lands. The Legends of the Dread Realm will launch in August, and the high fantasy series will introduce fans of the genre to a new adult-themed saga that is sure to please.

PHOENIX EARTHApril, 2012

And entering the fray this year is Phoenix Earth, our inaugural, full-on space opera/sci-fi entry. With this series, 711 Press goes beyond the usual frontiers, reaching out to bold new territory with an intriguing, politically-charged, action-packed, and entertaining TV book series that is sure to delight fans of the genre. If you loved Battlestar Galactica as we did, you'll wanna catch this show in April--but don't look for Cylons in this series. We're talkin' alien planet and future Earth. 'Nuff said!

ORDER OF 5IVEJuly, 2012

Order of 5ive returns this year with an explosive season 2 that picks up right where season 1 left off. The landscape may have changed somewhat (along with a few enemies) but the quirky, charming, and fun-loving teen heroes are back with a vengeance, as they are pitted against more hairy, mythological monsters and wild creatures of the night. The conspiracies deepen as well, and old enemies evolve into even greater threats as they amass power, raising the stakes for election year 2012!

MAFIOSIOctober, 2012

The mob goes Hollywood when Vincenzo, Paul, and Antoinette head out West, where the sun-drenched streets of LA run rampant with crime, and an undercurrent of violence swells the Hills. Tinsel Town isn't ready for the Paranzanos, but they're getting a couple of them anyway. Season two of this landmark series takes the saga in a new and exciting direction, and fans of classic mob epics won't be disappointed once they come along for the ride.

But this is just the tip of the iceberg, folks, as there's plenty more to come. We haven't even mentioned the season one omibuses for Oder of 5ive and Mafiosi, or two projects from James LaFleur & Gordon Massie, or Drusilla Winters' one-off horror effort. Also, there are two new non-fiction books on the way from 711 Press co-founders Daniel Middleton and Jaime Vendera. But we'll save those for another day.